Esther Delamater is a violist and violinist, originally from Southern California. She began her musical studies in the Suzuki strings program at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music where she was inspired by her teacher, Rachel Fabulich, to pursue music in college. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance from Northern Illinois University, where she studied with Anthony Devroye and the Avalon String Quartet. While at NIU, she performed in the NIU Philharmonic, the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the NIU Chinese Music Ensemble, and various chamber music groups. She also taught music lessons at the NIU Community School of the Arts. Esther went on to receive her Master’s Degree in Music Performance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she studied with Sally Chisholm and performed in the UW-Madison Symphony Orchestra.
Esther has studied Suzuki pedagogy with Ann Montzka-Smelser at NIU and the American Suzuki Institute, as well as with Liz Arbus at the Los Angeles Suzuki Institute. She also studied String Pedagogy with Eugene Purdue and the Feldenkrais Method with Uri and Hagit Vardi while at U.W. Madison. Esther currently enjoys teaching in the Madison area and performing as a frequent sub in the viola section of the Rockford Symphony Orchestra. Esther is passionate about teaching and inspiring her students to create beautiful music.